And yet, one of the most consistent challenges I've faced since joining this industry hasn't been the pressure of building a brand, the responsibility of our communications, complexity of a deal, or the pressure of funding timelines. It's something quieter and more familiar to many women in leadership: being left out. No matter how many in-roads I try to create, how proactive, how present, how much I contribute, time and time again I am excluded from key conversations regarding the business.